Chap. 11.] THE PANACES ASCLEPIOtf. 89 



discover it, being known also as the " pentorobus" 50 by some, 

 and the " glycyside" 51 by others; indeed, this is one of the great 

 difficulties attendant on forming an accurate knowledge of 

 plants, that the same object has different names in different 

 districts. It grows in umbrageous mountain localities, and puts 

 forth a stem amid the leaves, some four fingers in height, at the 

 summit of which are four or five heads resembling Greek 

 nuts 52 in appearance ; enclosed in which, ^there is a considerable 

 quantity of seed of a red or black colour. This plant is a 

 preservative against the illusions 63 practised by the Fauni in 

 sleep. It is generally recommended to take it up at night ; 

 for if the wood-pecker^ of Mars should perceive a person doing 

 so, it will immediately attack his eyes in defence of the plant. 



CHAP. 11. THE PANACES ASCLEP10N : TWO KEMEDIES. 



Thepanaces, by its very name, 55 gives assurance of a remedy for 

 all diseases: there are numerous kinds of it, and the discovery 

 of its properties has been attributed to the gods. One of these 

 kinds is known by the additional name of " asclepion," 56 in 

 commemoration of the circumstance that JEsculapius gave the 

 name of Panacia 57 to his daughter. The juice of it, as we have 

 had occasion to remark already, 58 coagulates like that of 

 fennel- giant; the root is covered with a thick rind of a salt 

 flavour. 



After this plant has been taken up, it is a point religiously 

 observed to fill the hole with various kinds of grain, a sort of 

 expiation, as it were, to the earth. We have already 59 stated, 

 when speaking of the exotic productions, where and in what 

 manner this juice is prepared, and what kind is the most 

 esteemed. That which is imported from Macedonia is known 

 as " bucolicon," from the fact that the neatherds there are 

 in the habit of collecting it as it spontaneously exudes : it 

 evaporates, however, with the greatest rapidity. As to the 



50 From \\sfive seeds, which resemble Jitehes. 



51 "'Sweet to the view," apparently. 



52 See B. xxiii. c. 76. 53 He means nightmare. 



54 See B. x. cc. 18, 20, and B. xxvii. c. 60. 



55 The Greek for "all-healing." 



68 Probably the Laserpitium hirsutum of Lamarck. The Echinophora 

 tenuifolia of Linnaeus, the thin-leaved prickly parsnip, has also been named. 

 Or "All-heal." 3 In B. xii. c. 57. 



89 In B. xii. c. 57. 



